Mar 23, 2017
The raising of Lazarus is fundamentally the proclamation of the gospel. The range of the cast of characters is large enough to count us all into the story. Jesus himself is portrayed by John’s gospel here as particularly decisive, tempered by a full range of very human emotions. Indeed these events and the next chapter 12 before we move to the Last Supper, are the turning point of the gospel and of Lent toward the Paschal Mystery. CCC 640 teaches the core of our faith in the Resurrection. Jesus expresses very deep emotions, almost of indignation, at the responses of people to death as a sign of resurrection. While we live in a “culture of death”, we do everything we can to deny it. This may be a time to reflect on a recent trend not to have funerals, even opposing the deceased’s wishes.
Lent 5 A Lectionary Catechesis
Mar 19, 2017
by Gabino Zavala, Justice and Peace Director
It has been said that every budget is a moral document. How we spend our money identifies our priorities and our values. We also understand that our society is judged by how we treat the most vulnerable people. In light of this, what does the recently proposed budget by President Donald Trump, if passed, say about our values and priorities as a nation?
The proposed White House Budget cuts programs that help the poor and vulnerable: the elderly, children, single parents, and those struggling in poverty. In the desire to “make America great again” we are being asked to cut funding that would enhance human life for those who struggle to survive, environmental protection that is helping us be stewards of creation by caring for the earth, and the protection of our arts, which are at the core of what it means to be human. President Trump’s proposed budget would all but do away with community block grants, thus affecting the poor’s ability to heat and cool their homes, roof their houses, deliver meals on wheels to shut in seniors, and have safe and affordable child care. This budget proposes a 31% cut to the EPA so that we allow businesses to make profits while cutting corners and deregulating so that toxic waste can continue to be dumped into our rivers. And then there are the cuts for medical research, agriculture, and diplomacy. To fulfill the President’s campaign promise of “America first,” we are slashing foreign aid to poor people around the world who are suffering.
At the same time, the proposed budget would increase our military spending by $54 billion (yes, billion!). We already spend $597.5 billion on our military industrial complex. China spends $145.8 billion and Russia $65,6 billion. The proposed budget would also spend $1.7 billion this year and $2.6 billion next year to build a border wall. Will billions of dollars more spent on arms and billions on a wall make us more secure?
Let us reflect on this proposed budget. How moral is this budget? What does it say to us as a people of faith? How should we respond? I will be contacting my congressman and senators to let them know my thoughts about what I consider to be an immoral document. I will be letting the president know what I think. Will you join me?
To find your national representatives, go to http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/. From your cell phone you can text your zip code to 520-200-2223, and your representatives names and office phone numbers will be sent to you.
Mar 16, 2017
A very rich Lenten set of readings, following after last Sunday’s. Obviously, blindness is the theme here, but the real theme is the healing that enables us to see, and to see as God sees. Focus on the glass half full. The next challenge then is to see as God sees in the reality of God’s light. To live in this Light who is Christ is God’s providential care for us. God acts in our history (globally and personally), but do we see it by living in this new light. Finally the readings are about worship.
Lent 4 A Lectionary Catechesis
Mar 9, 2017
by Vicky Otto, Director of Precious Blood Companions
One of my favorite movies is called “Love Actually.” At the beginning of the movie you see a large crowd gathered at the airport. As the camera pans across the crowd everyone’s face displays a sense of anxiety and stress. The second time the camera pans across the crowd the faces begin to change. Suddenly they see their loved ones that they have been waiting for as they departed the plane. Faces were transformed from tense and stress filled to faces filled with love.
I can only imagine what it must have been like for the disciples as they saw Jesus transformed. As one author wrote, “Jesus was transformed by his love for God and by God’s love for him.” Just as in the airport when faces were transformed from stressed filled to love filled Jesus was transformed because of God’s love for him. But like the disciples, we are not mere spectators in the gospel. With the disciples, we are given a glimpse of Jesus’s identity which in turn will allow each of us to experience the transforming power of God’s love.
Every day we get a glimpse of the God’s love. When? When we experience the love and care of a family member. When we experience people reaching out to help someone else. When we experience the beauty of a wonderful sunrise, sunset. When we experience the peace that comes from our time in prayer. I’m sure that you can list more. As a community that is bound together by Precious Blood spirituality any time we reach out to another to share the gift reconciliation we offer that person the same glimpse that the disciples had. But we are human and there are times when we block those opportunities to revel in these experiences. Sometimes we intentionally close ourselves off to listening to Jesus, to all that he invites us to and that he invites us to do. Sometimes we don’t want have that total trust in the love of Jesus. During this season of Lent, we are given the time to consider what parts of our lives needs transformation. Reflect on these times that we have blocked things out or that we haven’t been open to listening to Jesus. May each of us recommit ourselves to trust in the love of Jesus and to courageously step out to share this love with others so they may have a glimpse of the transforming power of God’s love.
Mar 9, 2017
The readings for the first scrutiny are very complex and rich, so there’s more than enough material for many seasons of Lent. Symbolism as realities, like water especially today regarding climate change, are a whole topic by themselves. The recognition for ourselves like the woman at the well of Samaria that Jesus is the Christ is another topic to focus on. Finally, there’s the numerous aspects of reconciliation and evangelization work that the readings surface to explore in groups or in homilies. These are only a few of the major ones. The ultimate focus is evangelization and the invitation of God’s grace in our lives.
Lent 3 A Lectionary Catechesis
